The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-31
AIVIL- SERVICE REFORMERS.
Progress and Present Condition of the
Work in All Its Different Aspects.
What Has Been Done in Nation, State and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Not Quite Salts
factory, but Reformers Undismayed.


factory, but Reformers Undismayed.
NEW YORK, March 30.-In April, 1886, the ex-
Acutive committee of the National Civil-service
Reform League adopted resolutions authorizing
the appointment Of a committee of seven. for
the purpose of collecting information concern
ing the enforcement and operation of the civil
service law, and the principles and methods
adopted in furtherance of reform by national, |
State and municipal governments. The report |
has been prepared. and, though it has been
somewhat delayed, the result has been that the |
committee Is able to present moro comprehen- |
sive statement than would otherwise have been /
possible. Concerning civil-service reform in |
New York and Massachusetts, tho report says
New York and Massachusetts, are the only !
States in which the reformed State and municipal
system has been introduced In both States the
general and local supervision have been intrust-
cd to competent commissions composed OF sim |
eere friends of reform, to whom the happy re-
suits of the new system are largely due. They
have devoted great deal OF time and the most
Intelligent care to the establishment and en-
forcement Of the necessary rules and regula-
lions In both States the reform laws have
been faithfully executed and their practical
wisdom has been fully indicated In Massa-
chusetts the whole number OF persons included
In the classified service ,936, attached to the
clerical. police, prison, fire and labor depart
msnts, and the official testimony to the success
OF the reformed system is conclusive. For the
first time the reformed methods have been ap
Splied to the selection OF lahorers in cer
tain departments in the city of Bos-
ton. The regulations are reasonable, and
Mayor O'Brien testifes unreservedly to
the benefit resulting from them to the municipal
service. The reformed system has been espe-
cially tested in the police department and the
bureau of statistics The board Of police state
that the application OF the rules has been at
Sended with satisfactory results. The chief Of
she bureau of statistics reports that in intelli-
sence. in capacity. in attainment and in attend
4nce upon work the present force reflects the
greatest credit upon the civil-service system"
The com missioners have received many requests
from several cities in the Commonwealth to ex-
teni the rules to the subordinate employments
In chose cities, especially to laborers and TO the
fire department, an extension, however, which
present appropriations do not permit 1t is a
significant fact which dsposes of the objection
that tie reformed system is unfair as tending to
introduce only college men into the public en-
ploymeDt thst 50 per cen. of all applicants ex
smned in Massachusetts, received only COM
mon school education.
I'm New York the State reform law has been
IN force since January, 1884 1t made OBJ
liaatory upon the cities in the State In May,
1884, although the Mayors OF New York and
Brooklyn had already voluntarily introduced the
reformed system in those cities under the dis
erection allowed by the original law. The first
good effect of the law was complete classified
sion Of the State service, which mad not been
previously made. In many branches Of thatserv-
Ice, especially in some of the great hospitals
natural opposition to what was considered q
doubtful interference with a necessary personal
prerogative of selection has wholly disappeared
nnder the benefcsnt results of the reformed
system, which has been happily extended be-
yond what was originally thought desirable
practicable Thus, among recent examinations,
are included compositions for the post of teacher
In institutions for the blind, of female assistant
physician in asyluma for the insane, and of
steward in State hospitals.
Competitive examinations for clerkships and
other empoyments are held simultaneously in
different parts of the State under the supervis-
of intelligent and interested citizens who
generously cooperate in the good work without
= compensation. For many special positions. the
enumeration of which shows the wide range of
official duty to which the reformed system is ap
= piled. non-competitive examinations are held un-
der the same effective and voluntary supervis-
lon The whole number of persons included in
she classified service in New York is Is. 800, OF
which 4,Sl9 are in the State service, and of the
3 whole number examined during the year Y per
cent were educated exclusively in the common
schools. Mr.. Grace. the late Mayor of the city
of New York. to whose intelligent fidelity and
earnestness in enforcing the reformed system
the supervising board in that city pays a warm
tribute. and whose knowledge Of the practical
operation of the law is both COM
prehensive and detailed, says that Sc
lection by competitive examinations supple
mented by probation, in fact. seems to furnish an
entirely satisfactory mode for filling vacancies. !"
The application of the competitive system to the
police and fire departments has been found to
be especially effective The supervisory board
composed of weIl-known friends of reform say
that they cannot speak too highly of the opera
tion of the reformed system in this branch of
the service in the city of New York. The re-
ports from other cities of the State to which the
reform law applies show honest effort to en-
force il effectively.
..In the States of Massachusetts and New
irf hne cf VnpIy l>1xyx
and Boston alone, the variety Of employment
and the number of persons embraced in the
classified service is quite large enough tho
roughly to test the reformed system It's sole
object ss ii has been administered, is to ascer.
tain by reasonable and appropriate tests of ex-
animation ard probation those persons among
the applicants for State and municipal
employ ment who are most competent
for it. system which simply
and successfully determines this question in the
States of Massachusetts and New York and in
the cities of New York Brooklyn and Boston. is
system which would be equally beneficial in
every State and every city Of the country The
efficiency of such system, however, depends
mainly upon the chief executive officer. This
has been illustrated In the city OF Brooklyn,
where, under the late Mayor, Mr. Low the re-
formed system was enforced with most benef-
Gent results But recent investigation of the
present municipal administration by the Legisla-
tive committee shows that the reformed system
has been neglected and perverted under his sue
cessor so as TO offer little resistance to the abuses
which it was designed to correct Thu State re-
form laws are designed to aid the Governor in
the disharge Of his duty, and the authority in
trusted to him enables him to modify the rules
and regulations so a. to battle their purpose
should he be disposed He is constantly be-
sought to make exceptions to the rules and to re-
Sieve applicants from competition on the ground
hat the heads of offices are responsible for
she acts Of subordinates. But this assertion
above q complete misapprehepsion Of the law,
- winch assume responsibility for itself by pro-
Sl..x methods of appointment independent of
the head of the office, except in certain confiden-
tial POSITIONS. The rule for selections for an
pointments under the law is competition, and
ia,n rnla shonld ha dfaranardad onlx. for u..x